Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, is one of the most devastating risks facing families affected by severe epilepsy. In children with alternating hemiplegia of childhood caused by changes in the ATP1A3 gene, the team has discovered that the heart, not just the brain, may play a critical role in sudden death risk. Specifically, some children with AHC develop abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. This project will identify which children are at highest risk and which medications are safest, with the goal of preventing sudden death and providing families and guiding clinical care of patients.
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